Saturday, 17 August 2013

Missing Andy are releasing a special edition single of 'Happy Place', a track from their 'Guerrilla Invasion' double album and have decided to give all single profits to a little girl from Chelmsford.

Indie Smith suffers from Atypical Haemolytic Ureamic Syndrome or aHUS, a rare condition causing the red blood cells to break down and leads to kidney failure. Her current treatment is a breakthrough alternative to dialysis and she has less than one year of treatment remaining which costs £250,000.

Steve Rolls, guitarist from Missing Andy, was first introduced to Indie's charity when he sponsored a friend who ran 10 miles for the cause.

"We've done plenty of gigs for bigger charities in the past, but we came away not really feeling like we'd made a dent. With Indie, we know the money's going directly to helping her get better. It's great to see how many local people have got behind Indie and her family and helped to raise money... it's inspired us to do the same."

Originating as an acoustic track on Part 2 of 'Guerrilla Invasion', Happy Place has become a live favourite for the band. To give the release more impact, the band recorded a special version of the song to make it an exclusive for the 'Help Indie' campaign.

A contagious little number, easy to pick up and sing along to (you can understand why it's become a live favourite), 'Happy Place' was launched on Friday, August 2 and will be available for download from all major sites including iTunes, Amazon, Rhapsody and XBOX Music.

Friday, 16 August 2013

However, today April Towers have emerged to continue the journey. Charles and Alex have aired their first track 'Tel Aviv' on Soundcloud and already the buzz is beginning.

The track is a taster for the band's forthcoming EP 'Peaks' which is due for release in September. Defining themselves as an 'electronic duo' will inevitably bring comparisons with The Petshop Boys and Marr & Sumner's Electronic. These comparisons are valid, but the simplicity of Tel Aviv reminds me more of maybe Travelogue era Human League or early New Order. Either of which are great starting points.

Such an instantly familiar song, Tel Aviv has a brilliantly simple groove, and I guarantee that you will be singing the chorus by the second listen. This song has a big future. April Towers have a big future.

Enough said. Have a listen and follow......The 3 track 'Peaks' EP will be released in September with tracks :-1. Tel Aviv2. Listener3. PeaksKeep your eyes on the April Towers Facebook page HEREMick

Monday, 22 July 2013

The Chapman Family have announced tonight that their gig this Friday at the Georgian Theatre will be their last. I, for one, am VERY sad to hear this news. I have always thought and still think that The Chapman Family have all the components to be a huge band, if only the retarded music industry wasn't so cash orientated. I personally would like to wish the band members the very best of luck in whatever they go on to do. Check out The Chapman Family's music on iTunes HEREMickIndie Pen Dude___________________________________________________Statement from the band:-To our fans and friends,

We're really sorry to announce that The Chapman Family is coming to an end.

The gig at the Georgian Theatre in Stockton-on-Tees this Friday night will be our last.

We would like to thank you all from the bottom of our hearts for the support you've given us over the years since our very first gig at the Kubar in 2006 to the very moment you're reading this now. You're all... amazing and it's been an honour and a pleasure to play for you. You've given us memories that we will treasure forever and we hope in some small way that the records we've made for you - from the pink DIY effort of "You Are Not Me" in 2007 to the purple vinyl of "This One's For Love" last month via the album "Burn Your Town" and the EP "Cruel Britannia" - will provide you with pleasurable diversions throughout your lives for years to come.

We were the first completely unsigned band to feature on an NME tour as well as top the MySpace charts on MTV. By hook or crook we managed to play to audiences in Japan, America, Italy, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Austria as well as more towns and cities than we can possibly remember in the UK. We'd like to thank everyone that we've ever worked with, every promoter that's ever put us on, every soundman that has asked us to turn up and not down, every blog that has interviewed us, every DJ that's played our songs, every magazine or newspaper that's taken an interest and every one of you who's ever had their heads turned slightly or their eardrums blown by a bunch of Teessiders trying their very best to be the most exciting rock band they can possibly be.

Sunday, 21 July 2013

Hot on the heels of Tony McCarroll's amazing OASIS THE TRUTH (Available Here), there's another book on the way that gives us a brilliant insight in to the early life and development of the band between 1992 and 1996. In my opinion, definitely their most interesting and eventful period.

The book is written by Stuart Deabill and Ian Snowball the authors of Thick as Thieves: Personal Situations with The Jam, which was described by Paul Weller himself as "The best book on The Jam and it's audience I've ever seen". What more do you need to know.

Personally recommended by none other than The Big Un himself ('cos he's in it), you know that SUPERSONIC is gonna' be mega!

The book is published on 16 Sep 2013 and you can pre-order it now HERE.

Saturday, 15 June 2013

Matlock Bath Music Festival is held in Derbyshire's very own Matlock Bath. This years event will be held on the Saturday 29th June at 7 picturesque venues located in this sweet, charming town.

The mini festival is into its third year and is run by local label Medius Music and Matlock based band 3:Second:Fuse with help from local promotion companies such as Indie Wirks, Bandstand and Mark 2 promotions. The theme of the event is local unsigned talent with everything from metal to indie to folk to blues and everything in between all standing tall to make this day another success. To top all this off the whole thing is free.

Monday, 8 April 2013

The Stone Roses: One of the most iconic bands to emerge from the Indie music scene. The band that arguably spawned the whole baggy era that paved the way to Britpop. Innovators to the end. In a time when the world was listening to American hairspray rock and the acid house scene was in it's infancy, four lads from Manchester were plugging in and rocking out such modern day classics as I Wannabe Adored, Waterfall, Elephant Stone and Fools Gold to name but a few.

The story of the Stone Roses, from their humble beginnings in 1986 right through to their break into Heaven, including all the good times and many moments that document milestones in the history of music have been captured by the rock photographer Ian Tilton in his much anticipated book "SET IN STONE". An unrivalled insight into the life of The Stone Roses from someone who was there. Their story could not be told as accurately or intimately as this from anyone other than Ian Brown, Mani, John Squire or Reni themselves.

Ian Tilton has an outstanding CV with regard to music photography. Over the past thirty years he has captured such legends as Kurt Cobain, Guns N’ Roses, The Smiths, The Cure, Oasis, The Happy Mondays, The Charlatans, Iggy Pop, Suede, The Faces, Ian Curtis, Primal Scream, Sonic Youth, The La's, The Pixies, Manic Street Preachers, New Order and more.

On the 20th of April, Ian Tilton will be appearing at The Venue, Abbey Street, Derby to personally deliver his documentation of The Stone Roses story. A unique opportunity to pick up your copy and chat with the author himself.

Co-Author Claire Caldwell will also be there, reading passages from the book live on stage. Claire grew up in the North West when the "Madchester" era was evolving and her love for the scene is second to none. She has worked as a photographer, stylist, script editor and film-maker.

The event will be compared by none other than Rick Witter, frontman from Shed 7 who themselves were a big part of the 90's Britpop scene that emerged from the musical influence of Madchester and The Stone Roses. Rick will also be introducing up-and-coming Derbyshire band The Indiannas, who are carrying the torch forward for indie music.

To round off what is sure to be a great night, the event is headlined by The Complete Stone Roses. Easily the number one Stone Roses tribute band, they will definitely bring the night to an amazing climax with all of The Stone Roses classics.

Get your tickets soon people. There may very well be none left on the door. It's gonna' be a big one.

Friday, 15 March 2013

Johnny Marr has produced an absolute masterpiece in The Messenger, his long awaited debut album﻿. A major asset of this album are Johnny's lyrics. So here they are. Get the albumn on LOUD and sing along.

THE RIGHT THING RIGHT Love fights love Invading my zero gravity The crowd grows And grows illusions Down on quantity street High speed our miracles Way too smart But short on innocence Endorphin heaven I believe it all but I don't feel it

My heads in the South now Individual citizens Hear it My hearts in the North now Individual citizen

Here it is The star just got lit On the right thing right We got a right thing Hear me, the wonder of it On the right thing right I'm on the right thing

Every word's hidden meaning Loses me and now its so loud I can't receive And what you're asking Seems to be a voice so now I can't be reached

And we're, and we're, and we're, and we're Individual citizens

Here it is The star just got lit On the right thing right I'm on the right thing Hear me, the wonder of it On the right thing right I'm on the right thing

Love finds love it's following And what we're after Seems to be a voyage so far it can't be reached

And we're, and we're, and we're, and we're Individual citizens

Here it is The star just got lit On the right thing right I'm on the right thing Take it Life just got a hit On the right thing right I'm on the right thing Hear it The signs just won't quit On the right thing right I'm on the right thing Hear me, the wonder of it On the right thing right I'm on the right thingBuy the album HEREI WANT THE HEARTBEAT Pulse correct my lottery And life's a ward Now she's on me Fast machine transmits Her wave to wave activity Pure correct technology Quick ! strap - connect that beat to me Flatline reveal transmits Heart rate to her maximum beat

UPSTARTS Oh I feel it coming round I hear it Sounds like the good life I know Oh I see us running down Defiance comes Oh

The underground is overground The overground will pull you down It's how it goes In these times How we know Is in their eyes Upstarts now Are on their way Upstarts now Have to pay

Oh I hear us Coming round Denial comes Oh The underground is overground The overground will pull you down It's how it goes in these times How we know Is in our eyes Upstarts now Are on their way Upstarts now Have to pay And hear her tell it now It's so fast

GENERATE ! GENERATE ! I blaze by and I wonder why Calculate calculate calculate I divide and I multiply Calculate calculate calculate Sensation versus thinking An equation No good for nothing Same old song What's going on ? Calculate calculate calculate

SAY DEMESNE We were crawling out of step, wrecked And we walked A secret for a while But that's ok So we thought Steal my cards And soul And sell 'cos you can Say Demesne They get you To get what they want

But you're in for love You're in for love And you will fight love You're in for love You still fight love But you're in for love And you will fight love

You're fucked, drunk, and your memory's stuck Crashing, and turned to go back home You're forgot Feel no good They're not They're lost And you're lost Take Demesne to a room where she opens your heart

But you're in for love You're in for love And you will fight love You're in for love You still fight love You're in for love And you will fight love

THE CRACK UP Dogs at the footsteps Transforms the model teen Glamour automaker Disguise the money A live assembly line Your face will never be the same Who could ask for more ?

Who would ask for more ? Come, see how it's done Eating every mistake Your eyes are dynamite Disguise and dominate If the girl could never get lost How is she gonna be found ? And she can't find herself She's gone and jumped out of it One fall and she's out of it

Her smiles are miles of metaphor Don't crack up It don't add up No U-turn You turn a mean catwalk So take off Tick tock Whose gonna fix your walk ? And you walk when you're broken up Take her Face off Tick tock Full stop

Don't you want to get lost ? You know it devastates Glamour auto monkey Disguise and dominate The girl could never get lost How is she gonna be found ? Couldn't find herself One fall and she's out of it

Her smiles are miles of metaphor Don't crack up It don't add up No U-turn You turn a mean catwalk So take off Tick tock Whose gonna fix your walk ? And you walk when you're broken up Take her face off Tick tock Full stop

NEW TOWN VELOCITY Left home a mystery Leave school for poetry I say goodbye to them & me Mission velocity It made me just run faster now I'm gonna take it all Drive around Make up my mind With the windows down

I'm in something alright I know I got to live it out uh-oh I can't resist Net force zero oh no It turned out like I said it would Can I get the world right here ?

Step out to symphonies They play on for you and me When we faced that July dawn In uniforms One and one, no wrong We chased that summer down

I'm in something alright I know I got to live it out uh-oh I can't resist Net force zero oh no It turned out like I said it would Can I get the world right here ?

I can't resist Net force zero oh no It turned out like I said it would Can I get the world right here ?

WORD STARTS ATTACK Days of no reason are upon us Count the ways to rage on us All the things that the new world promised Has made things that are not for us Made me wonder was it worth it Makes me wonder is it worth it

Sunday, 24 February 2013

SO! We're sat here in anticipation of the brand new MISSING ANDY album, Guerrilla Invasion. Not just a brand new album but a DOUBLE brand new album. We've heard acoustic teasers of the album and the first single is imminent - now they've announced a MASSIVE tour to support the album and your chance to experience Missing Andy in the flesh.

Believe me, if you've heard the songs, you will love them live, AND if you're new to Missing Andy then you have the treat of hearing the old songs, the new songs and seeing them live too. You lucky, lucky people.

Wednesday, 20 February 2013

Alex Lowe shot to fame in 1997 with his band Hurricane #1 who were signed to Alan Mcgee's record label Creation. Hits such as "Step Into My World" and "Only The Strongest Will Survive" gave the band a name at the top of the indie scene which lead to them performing on such shows as TFI Friday and Top Of The Pop. After Hurricane #1 split Alex went on to have a solo career bringing out three albums. But now he is back where he belongs, fronting a no-frills, no-nonsense rock and roll band GUN CLUB CEMETERY (Alex Lowe- Vocals and Guitar, Nick Repton-Bass and Colin Ward-Drums). The band have unleashed their three track EP called Take Me Down Again which is available to download on ITunes. The lads are set to sign to Alan Mcgee's brand new record label 1123 in the summer.

Before Alex hits the road with Gun Club Cemetery he is doing a small acoustic tour and Wirksworth based music promotion Indie Wirks are lucky enough to have booked him to play at The Victoria Inn Derby on Saturday March 30th. This is a chance to catch the man himself doing a intimate set before he blows up on the music scene with his band. Support on the night will come from local lad Alex Rennie and Liverpools finest Thomas McConnell.

Monday, 18 February 2013

100% pure unadulterated Johnny Marr.The nearest thing musically we've had to a Smiths album
since 1987.The solo album is finally
here.Even though Johnny has collaborated
with many musicians and played with numerous bands since The Smiths, The
Messenger is Johnny Marr at his best.Very familiar but new and progressive.The vocals are his best yet.A
huge leap forward from Boomslang.
OVERALL..................BRILLIANT!

Saturday, 26 January 2013

The outstanding 12 Dirty Bullets are heading out on the road again supporting their new album RIDDLES. Get yourself there and in the meantime get the albums and make 2013 the best year of your life HERE and the FREE album 12.12.12 is available HERE